A federal grand jury has indicted Erice Blyther, 46, for smuggling a controlled substance at Lanesboro Correctional Institution located in Polkton, NC according to the Department of Justice.
Blyther was arrested by the FBI on October 29.
Blyther was employed as a correctional officer at Lanesboro Correctional Institution, which is a state prison.
According to the indictment, between August and September 2018, while employed as a correctional officer, Blyther accepted a bribe to smuggle a controlled substance into the Lanesboro Correctional Institution on behalf of an inmate housed at the facility.
Upon investigation Blyther was arrested by the FBI. Blyther is charged with use of interstate facility to facilitate bribery, which carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine; extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $250,000 fine; and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.